Inspire Olympia shares first full year of impact, announces 2026-28 granting cycle
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In its first full year Inspire Olympia supported 874 public programs and events in Olympia, including field trips and other educational programs for public schools, according to the new Inspire Olympia 2024-25 Annual Report, and sixty-five percent of these activities were offered entirely for free. Arts, heritage, cultural, and science experiences funded wholly or in part by Olympia's Cultural Access Fund engaged 271,517 participants in this 12-month period.
Approved by Olympia voters in 2022, Inspire Olympia invested $2.6 million of dedicated sales tax revenues to support the work of 60 local nonprofit cultural organizations between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. Recipient organizations were charged with increasing access by expanding opportunities for youth, supporting programs by and for underrepresented groups, and lowering barriers to participation. They worked to offer free and reduced-price programs, expanded their offerings, and collaborated with other cultural and social service organizations to leverage strengths and grow organizational sustainability.
"Across the nation, communities are contending with shrinking federal and state support for the arts and sciences," writes Melissa Meade, Chair of the City's Cultural Access Advisory Board in the program's Annual Report. "Yet here in Olympia, we are charting a different course. Thanks to community support for cultural access funding, our organizations are not only holding steady, they are thriving. With this reliable support, they are hiring staff, dreaming bigger, planning further into the future, expanding services, and opening doors wider than ever before."
"These efforts ensure that live theater is not a luxury, but a shared community experience available to all and woven into the cultural fabric of Olympia," shared the Olympia Family Theater in their year-end grant reporting. "It's incredibly motivating for staff and artists alike to witness the joy and connection that grows when financial barriers are removed."
Inspire Olympia grant recipients reflect a strong and eclectic core of creative and science nonprofits fueling Olympia's reputation as a creative hub. The initial list of 60 participating nonprofits in the 2024-25 grant cycle has already swelled to 74 in the 2025-26 granting cycle now underway.
With its emphasis on expanding programs for youth, the numbers from Inspire Olympia's first year are striking: over half of Inspire Olympia's participating organizations offered activities for youth, producing 116 programs that served 19,156 young participants. Twenty-three funded nonprofits partnered with the Olympia School District to serve students in every elementary and middle school, with 69 in-class programs and 80 field trip programs. These hands-on opportunities took place in classrooms and community settings ranging from Burfoot Park to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Inspire Olympia also covered the cost for 215 buses serving these field trip programs.
The Hawk Foundation for Research and Education in African Culture is an Inspire Olympia organization that brings African drumming into classrooms. They reported, "Some teachers said it was the most engaged they had seen their students all semester. These experiences go beyond music; they build confidence, curiosity, and a connection to something larger."
And there's more right around the bend. Inspire Olympia has announced dates for the 2026-2028 granting cycle, including application windows for its two grant options and an Informational Session to learn more about the program and how to apply.
Applicants in the upcoming one and two-year grant cycles will have the opportunity to seek larger grants than in previous years, following program adjustments approved by the Olympia City Council in August. Comprehensive Grants will now offer two-year service contracts for up to $85,000 per year to experienced nonprofits with year-round programming. Impact Grants will allow for one-year contract awards from $5k to $50k for organizations that are new, smaller, or offering one-time events. Grant guidelines for 2026-28 are now available on the Inspire Olympia website, Olympiawa.gov/Inspire. The guidelines explain the grant opportunities and competitive application process in detail.
In addition to its grants Inspire Olympia is steadily building a program called Inspired+Connected, to support funded organizations with training opportunities and connections to resources and partnerships. This effort will strengthen Inspire Olympia's funded nonprofits with organizational best practices and support the continued development of inclusive, relevant, and responsive programs for Olympia.
Mayor Dontae Payne expressed excitement over the program's growing momentum, "Inspire Olympia is helping us create a city where creativity is accessible to everyone. By expanding opportunities for youth, supporting diverse voices, and removing barriers to participation, we are nurturing a healthier, more vibrant Olympia now and into the future."
Inspire Olympia 2026-28 Grant Cycle Dates
Jan. 5 - March 6, 2026 | Application open for Comprehensive Funding
Jan. 20 - Mar. 20, 2026 | Application open for Impact Funding
Early June 2026 | Funding decisions for one- and two-year grants
For questions and information contact Marygrace Goddu, [email protected] or go to Inspire Olympia's webpage at Olympiawa.gov/Inspire.
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Contact
Marygrace L. Goddu , Cultural Access Program Manager
Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation
360.480.0923
[email protected]
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